The noise had been niggling at Nora for a while, sifting into her dreams at the edge of consciousness.
She squirmed in bed. The sound took shape, a whirr of an engine. A saw. A chainsaw. It was coming from the back yard.
She jumped up and ran outside.
Her tree lay in pieces all over the ground. Her dad stood over it, the murder weapon on his hip.
‘Dad? Why?’
‘It were dead, luv.’
She rummaged through the severed limbs until she found it. ‘N&J’ scratched into the bark. The top of the heart was missing. Tears fell.
***
This piece was written for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – Addicted to Purple.
Each week a photo prompt is given and the challenge is write a flash fiction piece of no more than one hundred words.
Find other Friday Fictioneer stories here.
The top of the heart was missing – so poignant.
Thank you. 🙂
He cut right through her heart. A life lesson learned.
Thanks Iain.
Good one!! 👌🏼🥂
Was it the tree she mourned? Or the memory of her love?
Maybe it was the only physical evidence she had, as well as the memory. Thanks for reading 😊
Aw … Dad’s are truly rubbish at sentimental things. I remember my Dad came to help me pack up my house when I left my ex husband and his idea of packing was throwing everything away. ‘Fair dos Dad the marriage ended within 8 months but let’s not throw all my wedding stuff away just yet’ When I’m an old lady it will all matter even if the instinct then was to get rid!
I love the Dad’s accent too – good northern one 😃
I love the opening The Noise has been Niggling Nora …. Nice 👍
Thanks Anna! Your poor dad was probably too hurt to allow you to keep the stuff 😊 My dad kept pretty much everything, including all the broken stuff – kettles, irons 🤣 x
Good catch. I missed the accent. Yorkshire??
Yes. At least I hope it sounds like Yorkshire 🤣
I reckon so too- that’s how I heard it but then I’m a Leeds girl so I would wouldn’t I? 😃
😔 aw .. bless her!
Great story in such few words 👌🏼
Thanks Kate 😊 x
I like that the ground is the floor 😉
And damn those dads who just don’t get it…
Ha! I hadn’t even noticed that. I always say ‘floor’, even outside. I wonder if it’s colloquial? 🤔
Must be 😉
Hey! We get it. (At least the most of us :p)
Or at least some … 😉
Amazing story! So much action and history in so few words. I can almost feel Nora’s despair.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it 😊
Awwwe, what a heart-breaking story (pun not intended, I swear.)
Ha. Thanks so much.
Loved the imagery here, J.E. Sometimes it’s better to get over sentiments that keep us pinned to the past.
Thanks Varad! I agree, sometimes to better to move on.
Ecky-thump, that were sad lass.
Click to read my FriFic!
By ‘eck, glad ya liked it!
Not bad for a Southerner eh?
Not at all! I’m a Scouser so I’m also hoping I’m getting it right. Ha
‘Murder weapon’ ‘severed limbs’ ‘The top of the heart was missing’ – all excellent phrases to intensify the feeling of outrage at the felling of the tree. Very good writing!
Ah, thanks so much Penny! What a lovely comment 😊
Wonderfully written tale. Loved the title too.
Thanks Moon!
Gradely! 🙂
Ha! Thanks Sandra. 😊
Dear Jen,
Sad moment. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I love reading these each week. I need to get into something like this. 🙂 x
Thanks Jen! And you should definitely join in! x
I’ll have to look into it 🙂 thank you x
I love it. As a wife of a tree surgeon I feel sad for all the trees he has killed.
Aww, poor trees. Thanks for reading 😊
I think the memory was even more… I wonder if her daddy was eager to cut some forbidden love away from her as well…
Ooh, interesting thought Björn. I think that’s very possible 😊
Great little story, Jen. Lovely description, especially in the first two lines x
Thanks Kath x